Electron collector structure and lithium battery containing the same

Abstract

An electron collector structure and a lithium battery including the same are disclosed. The electron collector structure includes a conductive thin film; and a graphene layer that is coated on the surface of the conductive thin film and may improve the electrical conductivity of an electrode plate. As an electrode of the lithium battery includes the electron collector structure, the electrical conductivity of the electrode may be increased so that the energy consumption properties as well as the lifespan characteristics of the lithium battery may be also improved.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electron collector structure, comprising:
 a conductive thin film; and 
 a graphene layer consisting of one or more graphene sheets, the graphene layer partially coated on a top surface of the conductive thin film such that a portion of the conductive thin film is not coated by the graphene layer, and 
 an electrode active material layer disposed on the graphene layer and directly contacting the portion of the conductive thin film that is not coated by the graphene layer; 
 wherein the graphene layer is coated on an area in the range of about 50% or less of the top surface of the conductive thin film, and wherein the thickness of the graphene layer is less than 200 nm. 
 
     
     
       2. The electron collector structure of  claim 1 , wherein the graphene layer is coated on an area in the range of from about 10% to about 50% of the top surface of the conductive thin film. 
     
     
       3. The electron collector structure of  claim 1 , wherein the graphene layer has a regular arrangement of a checkered pattern, a plaid pattern, a circular pattern, or a polygonal pattern. 
     
     
       4. The electron collector structure of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive thin film comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, nickel, titanium, stainless steel, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
       5. The electron collector structure of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive thin film has at least one form selected from the group consisting of a film, a sheet, a foil, a net, a porous body, foam, a non-woven fabric, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
       6. The electron collector structure of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the conductive thin film has an uneven structure. 
     
     
       7. An electrode for a lithium battery, the electrode comprising:
 the electron collector structure according to  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       8. The electrode of  claim 7 , wherein the electrode is a positive electrode. 
     
     
       9. The electrode of  claim 8 , wherein the active material layer comprises at least one positive active material selected from the group consisting of LiCoO 2 ; LiNiO 2 ; LiMnO 2 ; LiMn 2 O 4 ; Li(Ni a Co b Mn c )O 2 , wherein 0<a<1, 0<b<1, 0<c<1, and a+b+c=1; LiNi 1-y Co y O 2 ; LiCo 1-y Mn Y O 2 ; LiNi 1-y Mn Y O 2  wherein 0≤Y<1; Li(Ni a Co b Mn c )O 4 , wherein 0<a<2, 0<b<2, 0<c<2, and a+b+c=2; LiMn 2-z Ni z O 4 ,LiMn 2-z Co z O 4 , wherein 0<Z<2; LiCoPO 4 , and LiFePO 4 . 
     
     
       10. A lithium battery, comprising:
 a positive electrode; 
 a negative electrode disposed opposite to the positive electrode; and 
 an electrolyte disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode comprises the electron collector structure according to  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       11. The battery of  claim 10 , wherein electron collector structure comprises a graphene layer, and wherein the graphene layer is coated on an area in the range of from about 10% to about 50% of the top surface of the conductive thin film. 
     
     
       12. The battery of  claim 10 , wherein electron collector structure comprises a graphene layer, and wherein the graphene layer has a regular arrangement of a checkered pattern, a plaid pattern, a circular pattern, or a polygonal pattern. 
     
     
       13. The battery of  claim 10 , wherein electron collector structure comprises a graphene layer, and wherein the thickness of the graphene layer is greater than 1 nm and less than 200 nm. 
     
     
       14. The battery of  claim 10 , wherein electron collector structure comprises a conductive thin film, and wherein the conductive thin film comprises at least one material selected form the group consisting of aluminum, copper, nickel, titanium, stainless steel, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
       15. The battery of  claim 10 , wherein electron collector structure comprises a conductive thin film, and wherein the conductive thin film has at least one form selected from the group consisting of a film, a sheet, a foil, a net, a porous body, foam, a non-woven fabric, and any combinations thereof.